Do not be mocked!!!

Be Genuine by Phil

“Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.” (James 1:22, NIV) 

The other day I had the opportunity to observe a mockingbird. Mockingbirds are known for their ability to mimic the sounds of not only other birds, but also the sounds of insects. 

The call of a mockingbird can be deceiving. Scripture warns us not to be deceived spiritually, but to “Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you—unless, of course, you fail the test?” (2 Corinthians 13:5, NIV).

Jesus spoke harshly of the Pharisees, referring to them as hypocrites, people who pretended to be something they were not. There are people who wear the label “Christian,” but their “walk” is inconsistent with their “talk.” 

Scripture says, “Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.” (Galatians 6:7–8, NIV) 

Those who sincerely practice the principles of KingdomNomics protect themselves against the dangers of being a mocker of God. “Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.” (Hebrews 4:13, NIV) 

In order to experience the power of the Holy Spirit in our lives, we must avoid, at all cost, pretending to be something we are not. We want our lives to echo properly into eternity. 

If we are careful to heed what the Scripture says, then we have the prospect of seeing God tangibly work in our lives while we are still in this world.

“Great are your purposes and mighty are your deeds. Your eyes are open to the ways of all mankind; you reward each person according to their conduct and as their deeds deserve.” (Jeremiah 32:19, NIV) 

We want to be sure we are not “mockingbird Christians” who only hear the Word and do not practice the Word in our everyday life.

A Prayer for Today:

Lord, help me to be a genuine reflection of what you want me to be in the world today, and forever. I ask this in the name of your Son, Jesus Christ. Amen. 

source:  http://www.kingdomnomics.com/

4 Principles on How to Begin a New Life in Jesus Christ

Knowing Jesus Christ is the most exciting relationship you can have. It is the beginning of a life of adventure with an all-loving, all-powerful God.

Also, you will begin a Bible study series which has had a positive influence on thousands of lives. Each lesson of Your Life in Christ builds upon the previous one and together they furnish practical understanding which will help you experience the Christian life as God intends.

The following 4 principles concisely explain what a person needs to know to begin a new life in Christ. A brief review of these scriptural truths will provide a starting point for being confident in your relationship with Christ.

 Principle No. 1

God loves you and created you to know Him personally. As it is written in John 3:16a – that “For God so loved the world that He gave his only begotten son that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life”

    Principle No. 2

   Man is sinful and separated from God, so we cannot know Him personally or experience His love. In Romans 6: 23, it is written “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God”.

Principle No. 3 

   Jesus Christ is God’s only provision for man’s sin. Through Him alone we can know God personally and experience His love. Again, as John 3:16 stated, “For God so loved the world that He gave his only begotten son that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life”

     Principle No. 4. 

    We must individually receive Jesus Christ as Saviour and Lord; then we can   know God personally and experience His love. In Romans 10:13, it is written that “for everyone who calls on the name of the LORD will be saved”.

Many people who have received Jesus Christ into their lives may still ask, “How can a person who has received Christ know with certainty that he will spend eternity with God?”

The answer to this important question supplies the foundation on which your Christian life can be built. In next few days, we will look at what the Bible says about how we can have confidence in our relationship with God.

Thanks for visiting and reading to the end. Please leave your comments, contributions and feedback in the comment box. God bless you. 

How to Make Jesus Your Highest Priority in Life

Let us all read and learn on how to make Jesus Christ Our Highest Priority in Life.  

Jesus Should Always Get Our Highest Priority says by Jon Walker 

Those who come to me cannot be my disciples unless they love me more than they love father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, and themselves as well.  (Luke 14:26 TEV) 

Jesus will not share our affection for him with anyone else, not even our own families. If you are faced with a choice between loyalty to him and loyalty to your father or mother, sister or brother, you must choose Jesus.

If you are faced with a choice between your own interests and the interests of Jesus, you must choose for Jesus. Think about Peter warming his hands by the fire. Someone says, “Aren’t you one of his disciples?” Will Peter choose for Jesus or for himself? 

We face the same decision every day at school, at work, among our friends and even within our families. Jesus appears ruthless as he commands you to give preference to him over anyone else, including the greatest love of your life, your best friend, even your own mother. 

But we misunderstand Jesus if we think what appears to be ruthlessness emerges from mean-spiritedness, self-interest, or even callous insensitivity. Jesus always has the endgame in mind, and he wants us with him in heaven, so he insists we re-center into his image. 

Jesus isn’t saying we can’t love others or make others a priority in our lives; he is saying he should be our highest priority. When you think of Jesus, could you ever think of him as having greater loyalty to anyone but the Father? Yet Jesus also loves us dearly, so much that he gave his life for us. 

Signs Jesus may not be the highest priority in my life:

·   There are Jesus things and secular things. I can keep them separate.

·  I might miss out on something if I make Jesus my highest priority.

·   Two people can share my highest loyalty: Jesus and _________.

In a conflict of loyalties, Jesus always gets the higher priority. Who or what gets the highest priority in your life? Do not forget to download your digital Bible here.

 

Thanks for reading and God bless you.

 

Jon Walker is the author of Costly Grace: A Contemporary View of Bonhoeffer’s ‘The Cost of Discipleship' managing editor of Rick Warren’s Daily Devotionals. © 2011 Jon Walker. Used by permission.

Where is your Treasure?

How to Focus on Things With Eternal Value  by Rick Warren

Don't hoard treasure down here where it gets eaten by moths and corroded by rust or—worse!—stolen by burglars. Stockpile treasure in heaven, where it's safe from moth and rust and burglars. It's obvious, isn't it? The place where your treasure is, is the place you will most want to be, and end up being. (Matthew 6:19-21 MSG).

The real secret to becoming content is to focus on the things that have eternal value. It may be a familiar teaching to you, but Jesus said we should store up our treasures in heaven, not on earth, “where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal” (Matthew 6:19-21, NIV). 

Think about the things in your life:

• What will last forever?
• What will last at least for your lifetime?
• What will last a few short years, months, or days?

Based on eternal value, what things are most important in your life? Where — and with whom — should you put most of your time and energy?

By reorganizing your life around eternal priorities, you’ll find yourself growing in contentment as you live according to God’s design and purpose. 

In conclusion, let us seek to focus on what matters most, that is the "Kingdom of God and His righteousness and all other things shall be added".

Stay blessed!
Shalom